Chapter 35 Show me what you got

"Do you really have to go that hard on him?" Damien muttered, his tone indifferent toward Kai.

"Of course I do! It's part of the training!" Ryder shot back.

Zane exhaled, shaking his head. "Alright, that's enough for today."

He turned his attention to Kai, who lay sprawled on the ground. "Hey, Kai! You okay?"

A weak arm lifted slightly, a shaky thumbs-up appearing before it dropped back down.

Zane watched him for a moment, a small smile creeping onto his face. He's stronger than yesterday… I think it's time he experiences what a real mission is like.

****

Crimson Vanguard – Recovery Room

Kai lay on the bed, his body wrapped in bandages, exhaustion etched onto his bruised face.

"This is like the fifteenth time you've been here this week. Are you sure you don't need to take a break?" Cleo asked, arms crossed. A young girl with flowing, lustrous yellow hair cascading down to her waist, she wore a sleek black costume that hugged her slender frame, accentuating every movement with effortless grace. Like Kai, she was also a first-year.

"Trust me, if it were up to me, I'd have taken a break already," Kai muttered.

"She's interested in us," Kurozaki's voice echoed in his mind.

Kai groaned inwardly. "Shut up, man… and stop with the 'us' thing. It's really creeping me out."

Cleo smirked. "Is that Kurozaki again?"

"Oh, she's asking about me," Kurozaki's tone practically beamed. "Tell her I said, 'Hey, beautiful.'"

"No," Kai replied flatly, annoyance creeping into his voice.

Cleo chuckled. "You know, I really think the two of you should try to get along better. You're going to be with him for a long time." She stretched out the last words for emphasis.

"She's not wrong," Kurozaki admitted.

Kai sighed. "Well, if you could stop talking for one second, then maybe we could get along."

"I haven't spoken a single word in over a thousand years, and now you're the only one who can hear me. You seriously expect me to shut up? Sorry to break it to you, kid, but that's not happening."

"Fine. Then there's no way we're getting—"

Before he could finish, the door swung open.

"Cleo!" Zane's voice filled the room.

"Mr. Zane!" Cleo called out, excitement lacing her tone.

Zane grinned. "How's my favorite healer?"

Cleo placed her hands on her hips, a playful smirk crossing her lips. "Still patching up reckless idiots, as usual."

Zane chuckled. "And I assume Kai is your number one patient?"

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously. At this rate, I should start reserving a bed just for him."

Kai let out a tired sigh. "Yeah, yeah, real funny."

Zane stepped closer, glancing at Kai's bandaged body. "Well, at least he's surviving. That's a good sign." He turned back to Cleo. "How's his recovery?"

Cleo tapped her chin in thought. "Faster than normal, but still not great. He's pushing his limits, which is good… until he breaks them. If this keeps up, I might need to start rejecting him."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "You'd actually do that?"

Cleo shrugged. "Probably not, but I'd at least give him a good scolding first."

Zane smirked. "That, I believe." He then looked down at Kai. "Well, good news, kid. I think you're ready for something bigger."

Kai's eyes narrowed. "Bigger?"

Zane crossed his arms. "It's time for your first real mission."

"Come on, man, you can't be serious," Kai scoffed, shifting his gaze away.

But Zane's stare was unwavering—deep, unreadable, and heavy with expectation. He didn't say a word, just watched Kai in silence.

Kai swallowed, his fingers gripping the sheets beneath him. The room felt smaller under that gaze, like the walls were closing in.

And then –

Kai was in the middle of an empty street, illuminated by moonlight, the cold night breeze blew gently against his face as he was still trying to understand what just happened, his eyes scanning the environment in confusion.

Immediately something in front of him caught his attention.

 A towering, seven-foot-tall monstrosity loomed under the moonlight lining its sides were ten long, wobbly tendrils—five on each side—twisting and writhing like the limbs of an octopus. 

At the center of its face sat a single, glowing eye, pulsating with an eerie light, cold and unblinking. Below it, a gaping maw stretched unnaturally wide, jagged teeth glistening as if eager to sink into flesh. The air around it felt heavy, charged with something primal—something hungry.

Its thick, muscular legs planted firmly into the ground, ready to propel it forward with terrifying speed. Every breath it took sent a low, guttural sound into the night.

The creature scanned its surroundings, its massive head tilting left and right in slow, deliberate motions. The way its single eye flickered with uncertainty hinted at confusion—it didn't seem to know how it had ended up there.

But the moment its gaze locked onto Kai, that confusion wavered.

The shifting glow in its eye steadied, its tendrils twitching in anticipation. In an instant, hesitation was replaced with intent. A single, undeniable motive burned within its gaze—Kai was its target.

Kai's breathing sharpened, fear and uncertainty mixed in his voice "What the hell is that thing ?" 

"That is a level 4 beast, it's called an Orc" Me Zane replied his confidence unwavering. "And you're going to have to take it down yourself"

"What ? I can't fight that thing" Kai panicked.

"Well then I guess it'll kill you" Zane replied casually.

"No wait... I can't...."

Immediately Zane vanished into thin air, a rush of wind occupying the spot he once stood in.

Kai's eyes widened in shock, "Since the first day I saw him, he's always been too fast to keep up with"

Zane reappeared at the top of a building close to the scene, in order to keep a close eye.

"Now I'm not there I bet he's gonna take this fight seriously, show me what you got Zenith" Zane said casually smiling.